Deauthorizing a Computer for iTunes: A Step-by-Step Guide
Why Deauthorize a Computer for iTunes?
Before we dive into the process of deauthorizing a computer for iTunes, it’s essential to understand why you might need to do so. iTunes is a proprietary music and video streaming service developed by Apple, and it’s not compatible with all devices or operating systems. If you’re using a computer that’s no longer supported by Apple or if you’ve upgraded to a new operating system, you might need to deauthorize it to use iTunes.
What is Deauthorizing a Computer for iTunes?
Deauthorizing a computer for iTunes means removing the iTunes software from the computer and preventing it from accessing your music and video libraries. This process is necessary when you’re no longer using the computer or when you’ve upgraded to a new operating system.
Step-by-Step Guide to Deauthorizing a Computer for iTunes
Here’s a step-by-step guide to deauthorizing a computer for iTunes:
Preparation
- Make sure you have the latest version of iTunes installed on your computer.
- Ensure that your computer is running the latest version of the operating system.
- Back up your music and video libraries to an external drive or cloud storage service.
Deauthorizing iTunes
- Open iTunes and click on the File menu.
- Select Preferences from the drop-down menu.
- In the Preferences window, click on the iTunes Store tab.
- Click on the Deauthorize button.
- Select Deauthorize from the drop-down menu.
- Confirm that you want to deauthorize your computer by clicking OK.
Removing iTunes from the Computer
- Open the Control Panel on your computer.
- Click on Programs and Features (in Windows) or Applications (in macOS).
- In the Programs and Features window, select iTunes and click on Uninstall.
- Confirm that you want to uninstall iTunes by clicking Uninstall.
Removing iTunes from the System Preferences
- Open the System Preferences window on your computer.
- Click on iTunes Store in the Library window.
- Click on the Deauthorize button.
- Select Deauthorize from the drop-down menu.
- Confirm that you want to deauthorize your computer by clicking OK.
Reinstalling iTunes
- Open the iTunes installation package on your computer.
- Follow the installation prompts to reinstall iTunes.
- Once the installation is complete, restart your computer.
Reauthorizing iTunes
- Open iTunes and click on the File menu.
- Select Preferences from the drop-down menu.
- In the Preferences window, click on the iTunes Store tab.
- Click on the Deauthorize button.
- Select Deauthorize from the drop-down menu.
- Confirm that you want to reauthorize your computer by clicking OK.
Reinstalling iTunes
- Open the iTunes installation package on your computer.
- Follow the installation prompts to reinstall iTunes.
- Once the installation is complete, restart your computer.
Important Notes
- Deauthorizing a computer for iTunes will remove all music and video libraries from the computer.
- You will no longer be able to access your music and video libraries using iTunes.
- If you need to access your music and video libraries, you will need to reinstall iTunes or use a different music and video streaming service.
Conclusion
Deauthorizing a computer for iTunes is a necessary step to ensure that you can use the service without any compatibility issues. By following these steps, you can remove iTunes from your computer and prevent it from accessing your music and video libraries. Remember to back up your music and video libraries before deauthorizing your computer to ensure that you can recover them in the future.